Secretarial answering system



Aug. 8, 1939 s. PETERSON ET AL SECRETARIAL ANSWERING SYSTEM Filed May 13, 1935 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. D.F.'

INVENTORS SETH PETERSON JULES E. GONSETH. JR

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 8, 1939 8 s. PETERSON ET SECRETARIAL ANSWERING SYSTEM Filed May 1-3; 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 23: -3O

HI- v 40 E4 4., 2 E3 --44 p 1 APO- MARS/MAL I'- I a I INVENTORS SETH PETERSON JULES E. GONSETH. JR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEORETARIAL ANSWERING SYSTEM Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,100

14 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to secretarial answering systems, and the object of the invention is to provide a more efiicient and economical system of this character than has heretofore been available.

The details of the invention will be explained hereinafter with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic circuit drawing showing the invention in simple 101: form, while Fig. 2 is a similar drawing showing a more elaborate form of the invention.

The invention has particular utility in providing answering service in some department of an organization having a private automatic exchange. Such an organization will usually have several departments, such as executive, auditing, sales, etc. Considering the sales department, for instance, there may be half a dozen salesmen and several stenographers, all having adjacent desks in the space allotted to the department. Now from the nature of their duties it will be evident that the salesmen may frequently be absent from their desks and unable to answer telephone calls from other departments. The

5 usual way of taking care of this situation is to assign the secretarial answering duties to some stenographer, who has extension lines run to her desk from the desks of the various salesmen who need the service. Keys are also provided at the secretarys desk by means of which she can connect her telephone to any extension line so as to answer a call on such line if the salesman for whom the call is intended is absent.

The objection to the usual arrangement is that it, requires local wiring between desks and an elaborate system of keys, which makes it expensive and generally unsatisfactory. The regular. telephone lines are usually provided for by some kind of permanent wiring, but these answer- ;ing systems often are installed as the need for them arises, and have to be changed from time to time, and therefore either have to be installed by means of temporary open wiring, or require expensive alterations. The large number of keys required: to give adequate answering service to a fairly. large department is expensive to begin with, and is apt to be confusing to the answering secretary. I

The answering system produced in accordance "with the invention described herein avoids all the objections pointed out in the foregoing. Local wiring between desks is entirelyeliminated and the secretary requires at mostonly a single key. The new system is therefore-more eco- 55' nomical and is simpler to operate.

Referring now to Fig. 1, thereference characters M. D. F. indicate a portion of the main frame of a private automatic exchange. The lines such as the line 2-3 extend to the automatic switchboard. On the other side of the main frame are connected the lines coming in from 7 the various subscribers stations, such as the lines 4-5 and G'I. The subscribers lines may be connected to the switchboard lines by means of jumpers, according to the usual practice.

Four working subscribers lines are shown, being the lines of stations A, B, C, and D. These stations are included within a dotted rectangle to indicate that they are all located within the confines ofa single department, such as the sales department of the organization served by the private automatic exchange. Stations B, C, and D are telephones belonging to salesmen, while station A is a telephone at the desk of the stenographer or secretary who is to answer the calls.

The secretary is also provided with an answering line 8-9 and a key K. The telephone A is normally connected to the secretarys own line 4'5, but may be connected to the answering line S -Bby operation of key K.

The answering equipment comprises a switch S, an alternating current relay such as II for each line having the service, and two relays l4 and I5, all connected as shown in the drawings. The switch S may be an eleven point rotary line switch mechanism of the type which moves in a forward direction only. All this equipment may be suitably installed on the branch exchange switchboard. If ordered at the same time as the rest of the equipment, regular mounting space will be provided along with the switches and other apparatus employed for regular service. Otherwise the answering equipment may be mounted in the space usually provided for growth of the exchange. "I'he battery indicated at several'points in the drawings may be the branch exchange battery.

Proceeding nowwith the explanation of the operation of the system, it will be assumed that someone calls telephone B through the medium of the branch exchange apparatus. Ringing current is transmitted over the line BI to ring the bell at station B. This ringing current also operates the alternating current relay I2, which pulls up'and holds up during each ringing period. In operated position relay I2 grounds the associated test contact in the bank of wiper I8 of the switch S, and also closes a circuit for the stepping magnet I9 of switchS. Magnet I9 opens its own circuit and accordingly operates in buzzer fashion to advance the switch wipers step by step in search of the line being called. When test wiper l8 reaches the contact to which ground has been connected by relay |2 a circuit is completed for test relay l5, which pulls up and opens the circuit of magnet l9, thereby stopping the opera tion of the switch with the wipers l6 and H standing on contacts which are connected to the called line 6|.

The switch S will usually reach the called line during the first ringing period. If it does not the operation .of the switch will cease anyway at the expiration of the ringing period, due to the falling back of relay 2, and will be resumed on the next ringing period. After the switch has found the called line, the test relay l5 will fall back at the end of each ringing period, but the switch cannot start operating again because the relay |2 on falling back breaks the circuit of stepping magnet |9 at the same time that it breaks the circuit of the test relay l5.

If it be assumed now that there is someone at the desk where telephone B is located, he will answer the call by lifting the receiver and the ringing will cease. The switch S remains where it is, but is ready to start off in search of the line on which the next call comes in.

Assuming, however, that no one answers the call at telephone B, the secretary will soon notice the persistent ringing of the bell at that station, and glancing over she will see that no one is there. The secretary will therefore actuate her key K which switches her telephone A from the regular working line 4-5 to the answering line 89. Since the switch S has found the called line 6'| by this time, the telephone A is bridged across the line and the secretary can answer the call. It will be observed that the relay i4 is connected in series with one side of the answering line. This relay pulls up, therefore, and opens the circuit of the stepping magnet l9, which prevents the switch S from being started up if another call should come in.

After the secretary has handled the call she will hang up her receiver and restore the key K, thereby again connecting the telephone A to line 4-5 ready for regular incoming or outgoing calls. The relay |4 falls back again due to the foregoing, and the switch S will then be in condition to hunt for another call. It will be noted that this switch responds to every call and connects up the answering line so that whenever the secretary finds it necessary to take care of a call the answering circuit is prepared.

In the foregoing explanation it has been assumed that all the telephones having the answer",

ing service are in the vicinity of the secretarys desk so that she can hear the ringing of any telephone. In the event that the telephones are more widely separated it will be clear that a bell may be connected across the answering line at the secretarys desk as indicated at 2|. The provision of this bell is optional. In many cases it will not be required. It will be clear also that if the secretary uses her own line less frequently than the answering line it will be convenient to leave the key K normally in operated position so that the telephone A will normally be connected to the answering line. Under these conditions the bell 2| will be connected across the line 4-5 to notify the secretary when she is being called on her own line.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the modification there-,

in shown will be described. There may be several objects in furnishing this more complicated equipment. One object is to prevent the secretary from listening in, which is a very desirable feature in case one or more of the telephones having the answering service are located at a point where the secretary cannot be directly observed. Another object is to enable the secretary to use the answering line also for her own incoming and. outgoing calls, which obviates the necessity of running more than one line to the secretarys desk, and also saves the key.

In the drawings the layout has been simplified by showing only one line 30-3|, having answering service, and the secretarys line 32-33. There may be a number of lines such as 303|, each having an A. C. relay such as 39, and each being connected to the banks of the switch S similar to the way line 3| 3| is connected. The switch S is similar to switch S, Fig. 1, but normally stands in home position, or on the eleventh set of contacts, and thus maintains the secretarys telephone A normally in connection with the secretarys own line 32-33.

To describe the operation of the modified systerm it will be assumed that a call comes in on the line 3|i-3|. The A. C. relay 39 responds to the periodic ringing current, marks the test contact associated with the called line in the bank of wiper 36, and also closes a circuit for relay 38. On energizing, relay 38 opens the lines to wipers 34 and 35, and closes a circuit for the stepping magnet 31 of switch S. The switch accordingly rotates its wipers around until test wiper 36 picks up ground on the second test contact, whereupon test relay 43 pulls up and stops the rotation by opening the circuit supplying operating ground to magnet 31 and to relay 38. Telephone A .on the answering line is now connected to line 3|i3| through wipers 34 and 35 of switch S.

If there is no one at telephone B to answer the call, the secretary will proceed to answer it by removing the receiver at telephone A. This stops the ringing in the usual manner, whereupon relays 40 and 42, in series with the two conductors of the answering line, respectively, pull up. Relay 42 performs the same function as relay |4 in Fig. 1, opening the operating circuit of switch S so that another call coming in cannot start up the switch. Relay 4!] closes a circuit for relay 4|. Upon energizing, relay 4| prepares a circuit for relay 38 at 45, at 46 marks the home contact in the bank of wiper 36, locks itself at 41, and at 48 removes ground from the positive side of the line so as to clear the talking circuit.

After taking care of the call the secretary will replace the receiver at telephone A. Relays 40 and 42 accordingly deenergize, and the latter relay closes a circuit for relay 38, relay 4| remaining locked up for the time being. Upon energizing, relay 38'disconnects Wipers 34 and 35 and closes a circuit for magnet 31. The stepping magnet operates on the closure of its circuit and advances the switch wipers step by step until they reach the home position, when relay 43 pulls up and stops further movement of the switch. Relay 43 also breaks the locking circuit of relay 4|. When this relay falls back it removes the marking ground from the home position test contact, so that relay 43 falls back. The equipment is now in normal condition.

In order to explain the secrecy feature, it will be assumed now that a call comes in on line 3U3|, that, the switch S operates as usual to find the line, and that the call. is answered by the secretary. Relays 40, 4|, and 42are therek the call can be answered. In that event the fore energized. It will be assumed now that the call is also answered at telephone B, the person there perhaps having been merely slow in answering. The removal of the receiver at telephone B' places a shunt across the line and accordingly robs the telephone A of part of the current which it is getting over the line 303|.

This reduction in the current flow causes the deenergization of relay 42, which relay is marginally adjusted and requires the full line current to maintain'itself operated. When relay 42 falls back the telephone-A is cut off by the energization of relay 38, and the switch S is returned to home position as previously described.

In the normal operation of the branch exchange many calls, most of them as a usual case, will be answered at the telephones for whom they are intended. That is, the persons having the answering service will generally answer their own calls, except in the case of persons who are away a large part of the time. The circuits of the answering equipment are arranged so that if a person having the answering service answers a call himself the switch S will be immediately returned to home position.

To explain this it will be assumed that a call comes in on line 303| and that the switch S finds the called line. It will be assumed further that the person at telephone B promptly answers the call. It should be noted now that the positive side of the answering line, the side which goes through relay 4|], is normally connected to ground at contacts of relay 43. This ground connection normally has no effect on the line equipment at the branch exchange or on relay 44, because the positive side of the line is the side which goes to ground. When the receiver is lifted at telephone B, however, the conductors of line 343| are looped together at the telephone, and the transmitter is supplied with current over the two conductors 3E! and 3| in series. The potential on conductor 3| is therefore raised to substantially half the potential of the battery. This is sufficient to operate relay 40, which closes a circuit for relay 4!. Relay 42 being deenergized at this time, the operation of relay 4| causes the switch S to advance to'home position.

An explanation of regular incoming and outgoing service at the secretary's telephone will now be given. It has been pointed out that the secretarys own line 32-43 is connected in the bank of the switch S at the home position and since the switch S returns to home position after every call to a telephone having answering service, if the call is answered either by the secretary or at the called telephone, the telephone A will usually be connected to the line 3233 ready to receive incoming calls to the secretary. When a call comes in the bell at telephone A rings and the call is answered in the usual manner. The ringing current does not affect relays 44 and 42 to any extent, as these relays are shunted by condensers. If the relays flutter slightly on the ringing current it does no harm. When the receiver is removed at telephone A relays and 42 respond, also relay 4|; and the energization of the latter causes relay 43 to pull up. These relays all fall back when the receiver is replaced. No operation of the switch S takes place because it is already in home position, and relay 43, energizing whenever relay 4| pull up, opens the operating circuit.

It may happen that a call to a telephone having the answering service is abandoned before is received and closes a circuit for relay 4|.

switch S will be left standing with its wipers out of home position. In order to take care of this situation the line .32-33 may be provided with an A. C. relay 44, which responds whenever a call If the switch is in home position the energization of relay 4| does no harm, and if it is out of home position the energization of relay 4| will cause it to advance to home position as previously explained.

As an alternative the line 32-33 may be provided with a third wire 54, which is connected to the test conductor of the line at the switchboard. As is well known, the test conductor is grounded whenever the line is called, in order to make it busy, and this ground potential will operate relay 4| .over wire 54. When the foregoing scheme is used the A. C. relay 44 can be dispensed with.

When the secretary makes an outgoing call the relays 40 and 42 pull up responsive to the removal of the receiver, being energized over the two conductors of the answering line and the conductors 32 and 33 in series. Relay 4| energizes also, and relay 43 pulls up. Now the condensers shunting relays 4|] and 42 provide for transmission of speech currents or ringing current adequately, but the dialling impulses would be seriously interfered with by the impedance of relays 49 and 42. Accordingly relay 4| is arranged;

to shunt relay 40 with a non-inductive resistance, and relay 43 shunts relay 42 with a similar resistance. By this means a good dialling circuit is provided. Relays 40 and 42 may respond to the impulses and may even fall back during a series of impulses without ill effect. Relay 4|] can fall back without harm because relay 4| remains held up over conductor 58, if such conductor is provided. If the alternative scheme using relay 44 is employed, this relay will respond to impulses and close the circuit of relay 4|. It will be observed that relay 4| is of the slow acting type so that any momentary opening of its circuit by the falling back of relay 40 or relay 44 will be without effect. Since relay 4| remains operated during impulses, relay 43 will remain operated and will hold open the circuit of magnet 31; consequently it makes no difference whether relay 42 falls back or not.

It may occasionally happen that the receiver will be removed at telephone A to make an outgoing call at a time when the switch S is not in home position. When this occurs the call will be initiated over the particular line with which the wipers of switch S are then in engagement. When dialling begins the bell at the telephone of the line being used will jingle and will warn the secretary that she is not on her own line. The call will usually fail because the provisions against moving the switch S during dialling are in eifect.

only when the switch is in home position. The secretary therefore will depress her receiver hook long enough to restore the switch S to home position and will resume dialling over her own line.

In order to obviate any possibility of trouble from.

this source the secretary may be instructed to make all outgoing calls by removing the receiver and by then replacing it for a brief interval be fore dialling the required number.

It is recognized that the secretary cannot use her own line when the switch S is engaged in hunting for a called line or in maintaining the answering line connected to 2. called line pending the answering of the call, but this is not a real defect, for it is assumed that the answering duties 0f the secretary are to have precedence over any calls that she may make or receive in any other capacity.

Having described the invention, what is considered to be new and is desired to be protected by Letters Patent will be set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a plurality of lines, an alternating current relay connected to each line, said relays being responsive to ringing current received over the associated lines, another line, a

switching device, and means whereby any one of said relays may control said device to establish a connection between its associated line and said other line.

2. In combination, a line, an alternating current relay connected to said line, a finder switch having access to said line, contacts on said relay for marking a contact associated with the said line in the bank of said switch, contacts on said relay for closing an operating circuit for said switch, and a test relay in said finder controlled over the marked contact when the line is found to open said operating circuit.

3. In combination, a line, a finder switch having access to said line, means responsive to a period of ringing current when the line is called for operating said switch in search of said line and for stopping the finder when the period is over if the line has not been found, and means for stopping said finder on the line if the same is found before the ringing period is over.

4. In combination, a plurality of lines, a finder switch having access to said lines, means for operating said finder in search of any called line, and circuit arrangements such that the searching operation of said finder is confined to periods when ringing current is being received over the called line for which the finder is searching.

5. In an answering system, a plurality of lines having answering service, an answering telephone, an answering line extending from said telephone to a finder switch, said finder having access to the lines of said plurality, and a line for said telephone connected in a particular position in the bank of said finder.

6. In an answering system, a line used as a combined answering line and regular service line,

,a finder switch in which said line terminates,

said finder having a home position, a regular service line terminated in the home position of said finder, whereby said first line is normally provided with regular service, other lines having extensions terminating in other positions of said finder, and means for operating said finder to connect with any called one of said other lines over its extension, whereby said first line may be used for answering service on said other lines.

7. In an answering system, a plurality of lines, a finder switch having access to said lines, an answering line extending to said finder, means responsive to ringing current on any called line for operating said finder to find the called line, a telephone on the answering line, and means responsive to the removal of the receiver at said telephone for preventing said finder from responding to ringing current on another called line.

8. In an answering system, a plurality of lines, a finder switch having access to said lines, an answering line extending to said finder switch, means responsive to a call on any line of said plurality for operating said finder to find the line, a telephone on the answering line for use in answering the call, and means responsive to the answering of the call at the called station for moving said finder switch off the called line.

9. In an answering system, an answering line, a finder switch in which said line terminates, a line accessible to said finder, means, for operating said finder to find said second line responsive to a call received thereover, said finder remaining on said second line if the call is abandoned before it is answered, and means responsive to the removal of the receiver at the station on said second line for operating said finder to move it off said second line.

10. In a telephone system, a subscribers line, an answering line, means responsive to the call when the subscribers line is called for connecting the answering line thereto, a telephone on the answering line to answer the call, and means" responsive to a decrease in the current flow in the answering line due to the shunting efiect of the removal of the receiver on the called subscribers line for disconnecting the answering line.

11. In a telephone system, two lines each having a telephone instrument, means responsive to a call received on the first line for connecting the second line thereto, so that the call can be answered at the telephone on the second line,

of the receiver on the called subscribers line' before the receiver is removed on the answering line for setting up a current flow over a conductor of the answering line, and means responsive to such current flow for disconnecting the answering line from the called subscribers line.

13. In a telephone system, a plurality of subscribers lines, means for ringing said lines, an answering line, and automatic means effective so long as ringing current is being received over any of said lines for maintaining said answering line connected to some one of said lines over which ringing current is being received.

14. A telephone system as claimed in claim 13,

characterized by the provision of means responsive to the removal of the receiver on the answering line for maintaining it connected to the line it is then connected with, although the reception of ringing current over such line ceases and continues on some other line.

SETH PETERSON.

JULES E. GONSETH, JR. 

